Renowned hotel brand and management company Dream Hotel Group has appointed Abid Butt as chief executive officer for Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa.

In this role, Butt is responsible for the continued growth and global expansion efforts of Dream Hotel Group and its portfolio of lifestyle brands — Dream Hotels, Time Hotels, The Chatwal and Unscripted Hotels — in established and emerging urban and resort destinations across the region.

With more than 30 years of global experience in the hospitality industry, Butt’s strategic acumen and drive to innovate has been instrumental in the launch of several hospitality brands; Four Points, Angsana, Dhawa and Cassia. An engaged professional dedicated to making a difference, he has been an ambassador for the industry, having frequently spoken at global conferences and served as an advisor for several industry organisations. Prior to joining Dream Hotel Group, Butt served as chief executive officer of Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts making a return to the group after initially serving as the first vice president of operations in 2012.

“Abid Butt joins us at a very opportune moment in our journey as we continue to focus on our international expansion efforts,” said Dream Hotel Group CEO Jay Stein. “Abid is known as a compassionate and results-driven professional who believes anything is achievable, and we are confident he will lead us through our next phase of international development and growth.”

“Dream Hotel Group has earned a stellar reputation within the hospitality industry around the world,” added Butt. “The Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa regions are hugely diverse with tremendous opportunity, and it is an honour to join this dynamic team and help build a global expansion strategy that will support the future growth of its lifestyle brands in these markets.”

Dream Hotel Group recently signed its first hotel in the Philippines with SkyCity Leisure Resorts to develop Dream Carabao Island, set to open in March 2020. The news followed that of the signing of Dream New Delhi with Viiking Ventures chairman, Sachiin J. Joshi, on track to open in the Central Business District in 2019. The group also signed two hotels in the Maldives with local entrepreneur Mohamed Manik and Alpha Kinam Holdings. The Chatwal Maaga Maldives and Dream Gasveli Maldives are scheduled to open in 2019 and 2020 respectively. Dream Hotel Group also signed its first hotel in the Middle East with Qatar-based Al Alfia Holding to develop a Dream Hotel in Doha, the state capital, in 2020.

Dream Hotel Group plans to sign another 30 hotels and resorts worldwide across all its brands – Dream Hotels, Time Hotels, The Chatwal and Unscripted Hotels – over the next four years, continuing to solidify its burgeoning global portfolio. - TradeArabia News Service